Combretum grandiflorum G.Don
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro. 2005. Vines and climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 51: 1-483.
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Family
Combretaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Twining liana, 3-10 m in length. Branches cylindrical, somewhat compressed in the area of the nodes, sparsely pilose or glabrous, usually with the pith hollow. Leaves opposite: blades 7.5-14.5 (25) x 3.5-7(12) cm, elliptical, obovate, or ovate, chartaceous or coriaceous, the apex obtuse or rounded, the base obtuse, slightly asymmetrical, the margins entire; upper surface glabrous, with the midvein appressed-pubescent; lower surface glabrous except for some papillae along the primary and secondary veins, with prominent venation; petioles 10-13 mm long, geniculate at the base, appressed-pubescent. Flowers 4-5-merous, ascending, numerous, in axillary racemes, horizontal, 6-12 cm long; pedicels 3-6 mm long. Hypanthium infundibuliform, 8-12 mm long, glabrous, red-purple, puberulous; sepals triangular, ca. 3 mm long; petals red-purple, spathulate, 1-1.2 cm long; stamens exserted, the filaments unequal; style simple, free, exserted. Fruit oval in outline, retuse at the apex, 5-winged, pale yellow or stramineous, 3-4 cm long, stipitate at the base. Seed one, pentagonal, 7-10 mm long.
Phenology - Collected in fruit in February.
Conservation Status - Exotic, cultivated, locally naturalized, uncommon.